Tuesday the 9th of July

Opening

The vaquita, the world’s smallest whale, is near extinction as its habitat is destroyed by Mexican cartels and Chinese mafia, who harvest the swim bladder of the totoaba fish, the “cocaine of the sea.” Environmental activists, Mexican navy and undercover investigators are fighting back against this illegal multi-million-dollar business.

Opening Ceremony Mayor of Paros

Festival Opening Beach Party

Wednesday the 10th of July

Beyond Plastic

We manufacture over 300 million tonnes of plastic globally a year – that is equivalent to the weight of the entire adult population of the planet. Half of this is used just once, before throwing it away. Plastic waste leaches deadly toxins into our waterways poisoning our agriculture and destroying our marine life.
We will feature films made by award-winning directors that highlight ‘beyond-plastic solutions’ on how to reduce and recycle more effectively. Our local and international expert scientists and entrepreneurs will showcase their projects, share their knowledge and provide practical plastic free solutions for Paros and beyond, throughout the Aegean.

‘Drowning in Plastic’
Directed by : Tom Watt-Smith – BBC

Can we turn back the plastic tide – before it’s too late? Wildlife biologist Liz Bonnin works with some of the world’s leading marine biologists and campaigners to discover the true dangers of plastic in our oceans.

Presentation
Plastics & Micro Plastics Emergency 
Pedro Moura Costa, BVRio, Hara Xirou
Project Clean Blue Alliance Paros, CommonSeas
G Erlendson, Enso Tyres

Thursday the 11th of July

Building a Better World for our Children

“Echoes – Voices of Today” presents a programme suitable for both children, youth and grown-ups. The “Dare to Imagine a Better Today” workshop and the documentary screenings will inform us about the near- future of our planet whilst our panel of finance experts will enlighten us on the business – oriented side of environmental issues will suggest sustainable models for financial change. Members of the youth group of Extinction Rebellion will also share their vision and present on their eco-friendly way of travelling to the islands.

2040
Directed by : Damon Gameau, & Q&A by Producer Nick Batzias

A hybrid feature documentary that looks to the future but is vitally important now. The movie explores practical solutions to environmental concerns are addressed with the hope that the filmmaker’s daughter, 21 years old in the year 2040, will face a hopeful future.

Workshop Dare to imagine a better today

Designed to create a “video time capsule” with the visions of children attending the festival.

Presentation – HHMI & Tangled Bank Studios
David Elisco, HHMI & Tangled Bank Studios
Connecting filmmakers with scientists as an accelerator for change

Panel
John Rhee, Impact Investor
Panayiota Apostolaki, Sustainability Advisor

Friday the 12th of July

Not So Many Fish in the Sea?

The Aegean Sea is at the heart of our Film Festival. The conservation of the region’s dwindling marine life has become a major concern to us. This is why we have assembled world experts to set into motion a workable plan to regenerate the Mediterranean – starting with the Greek islands. Our invited environmentalists, conservationists and entrepreneurs will educate us on the local Marine habitat and help us find ideas and solutions to conserve and replenish the seas surrounding the island.
Our featured documentary Artifishal will screen in the evening, highlighting the dire situation caused by our over reliance on farmed fish and the harm this is causing fish in the wild.

Artifishal
Directed by Josh Murphy.

It is a film about people, rivers, and the fight for the future of wild fish and the environment that supports them. It explores wild salmon’s slide toward extinction, threats posed by fish hatcheries and fish farms, and our continued loss of faith in nature.

Presentation – Marine Life
Maria Salomidi, Hellenic Center for Marine Research
Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tethys Institute of Milan (Online)
Tracey Carpenter – Public Relations and Community Consultation
Ocean Recovery – Major Projects Foundation conservation and research into WWII oil threat in the Pacific
Ana Salceda – NOAΑ & BelugaSmile Productions

Saturday the 13th of July

Cradle to Cradle –Why Circular Economy is the Natural Solution

Circular Economy is a new way to design, make and use things within planetary boundaries. It discards the old wasteful model of Take, Make and Waste and replaces it with a new regenerative system. By designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use and regenerating our natural systems we can reinvent how we manufacture almost everything.
Our panellists will present innovative projects and local examples of circular economy in action. Our aim is to offer the audience a unique experience that will trigger a desire to make a change, and help us apply feasible solutions on the island and further afield.

Anthropocene, the Human Epoch
Directed by: Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pensier & Edward Burtynsky

A cinematic meditation on humanity’s massive reengineering of our planet.
A new Epoch arrives and three filmmakers travel across 20 countries to document the profound and lasting human impact on our planet.

Location:
Cine Rex Open Air

Roundtable
The roundtable will be in the form of a panel discussion. It will be moderated by Joanne Sawicki (award wining journalist and television producer) and Nicolas Brown (Director at Passion Pictures), part of the Echoes team.

Presentation – Circular Economy
Circular economy and water preservation in the Aegean islands
Evgenia Tsianou, Project Hydrousa, alchemia – nova
Paros Park and Organic Farms of Paros
Elena Symeonidou

Presentation
Talia Woodin – Extinction Rebellion UK